Beyond Cosmic Scrolls: Unraveling the Physiological Dynamics of Shiva and Chitragupta’s Cosmic Record-Keeping
Introduction
In the Hindu tradition, Shiva and Chitragupta are two prominent deities who play vital roles in the cosmic order. Shiva, the supreme lord of destruction and creation, is depicted as a cosmic dancer who performs the tandava, a dance that symbolizes the cycle of life and death. Chitragupta, the divine accountant, is assigned with the task of recording every action of every living being in a register called the Agrasandhani, which serves as the basis of judgment after death. These two deities, though seemingly different, are intricately connected in the cosmic scheme of things. The purpose of this article is to explore the physiological implications of the cosmic roles of Shiva and Chitragupta. How does their cosmic record-keeping affect the human body and mind? What are the parallels and contrasts between their celestial functions and the physiological processes within us? How can we understand the mind-body connection in the light of their cosmic symbolism? These are some of the questions that we will attempt to answer in this article, using the framework of physiological transactional analysis, a branch of psychology that studies the interactions between the physiological and psychological aspects of human behavior. Shiva’s Dance of Creation and Destruction: A Physiological Symphony Shiva, the lord of the cosmic dance, is one of the most revered and complex deities in Hinduism. He is the embodiment of paradoxes: he is both the destroyer and the creator, the ascetic and the lover, the fierce and the benevolent. His dance, the tandava, is a manifestation of his cosmic power and energy, which sustains and transforms the universe. According to the Hindu scriptures, Shiva dances in various forms and moods, depending on the context and purpose of his dance. The most famous form of his dance is the ananda tandava, the dance of bliss, which he performs in his abode of Mount Kailash, surrounded by his consort Parvati and his devotees. In this dance, he expresses his joy and ecstasy, as well as his grace and compassion. Another form of his dance is the rudra tandava, the dance of fury, which he performs in the cremation grounds, accompanied by his fierce attendants. In this dance, he expresses his anger and wrath, as well as his power and justice. Shiva’s cosmic dance has a profound impact on the physiological rhythm of the universe. His dance generates and regulates the cosmic vibrations that pervade the entire creation. His dance also influences the cycles of time, such as the day and night, the seasons, and the yugas, the four ages of the world. His dance is the source of the cosmic sound, the om, which is the primordial sound that contains all the frequencies and harmonics of the universe. His dance is also the origin of the cosmic fire, the agni, which is the element that purifies and transforms everything. Shiva’s cosmic dance can also be seen as a metaphor for the intricate dance of physiological processes within the human body. The human body is a complex system that consists of various organs, tissues, cells, molecules, and atoms, which interact and coordinate with each other to maintain the homeostasis, or the balance, of the body. The human body also has various rhythms, such as the circadian rhythm, the ultradian rhythm, and the infradian rhythm, which regulate the biological functions of the body, such as the sleep-wake cycle, the hormonal secretion, and the menstrual cycle. The human body also produces various sounds, such as the heartbeat, the breathing, and the voice, which reflect the state and the activity of the body. The human body also generates various forms of energy, such as the heat, the electricity, and the light, which affect the metabolism and the communication of the body. The parallels between Shiva’s dance and the physiological dance of the human body are not coincidental, but rather intentional. According to the Hindu philosophy, the human body is a microcosm of the macrocosm, or the universe. The human body is made of the same elements and principles that constitute the universe. The human body is also a reflection of the divine, as it is created in the image of the supreme reality, or Brahman, which is the ultimate source of everything. Therefore, the human body is a sacred and a beautiful creation, which deserves respect and reverence. Chitragupta’s Ledger: Cosmic Record-Keeping and the Brain’s Memory Centers Chitragupta, the celestial scribe, is another important deity in the Hindu tradition. He is the son of Brahma, the creator god, and the assistant of Yama, the god of death. He is responsible for recording every action of every living being in a register called the Agrasandhani, which literally means “the foremost record”. He is also the judge of the deeds of the souls after death, as he presents the record of their actions to Yama, who decides their fate in the afterlife. Chitragupta is depicted as a fair and a meticulous recorder, who does not miss or alter any detail of the actions of the living beings. He is also depicted as a wise and a compassionate judge, who considers the motives and the circumstances of the actions of the souls. Chitragupta’s role as the cosmic record-keeper has a close parallel with the brain’s memory centers, which are responsible for storing and retrieving the information of the experiences of the individual. The brain’s memory centers are composed of various structures and regions, such as the hippocampus, the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the temporal lobe, which interact and cooperate with each other to form and consolidate the memories of the individual. The brain’s memory centers also play a crucial role in the cognitive functions of the individual, such as the learning, the reasoning, the decision-making, and the problem-solving. The similarities between Chitragupta’s ledger and the brain’s memory centers are not accidental, but rather meaningful. According to the Hindu philosophy, the human mind is a subtle and a powerful instrument, which can influence the reality and the destiny of the individual. The human mind is also a repository of the impressions and the tendencies of the past actions of the individual, which are called the samskaras and the vasanas, respectively. These impressions and tendencies shape the personality and the behavior of the individual, as well as the quality and the direction of their life. Therefore, the human mind is a valuable and a influential asset, which needs to be cultivated and controlled.
Neurological Impacts of Cosmic Awareness: A Journey Through the Brain
The awareness of being under cosmic scrutiny, or the belief that every action of the individual is recorded and judged by the divine authorities, such as Shiva and Chitragupta, may have significant neurological impacts on the brain and the mind of the individual. How does this awareness affect the brain’s stress response and cognitive functions? What are the potential psychological implications of this belief? These are some of the questions that we will explore in this section, using the insights from neuroscience and psychology. The awareness of being under cosmic scrutiny may trigger the brain’s stress response, which is a physiological reaction that prepares the body and the mind to cope with a perceived threat or challenge. The brain’s stress response involves the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is a complex network of hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate the body’s functions and emotions. The HPA axis stimulates the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, which increases the blood pressure, the heart rate, the blood sugar, and the alertness of the individual. The HPA axis also stimulates the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are the secondary stress hormones, which enhance the physical and mental performance of the individual. The HPA axis also modulates the activity of the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary functions of the body, such as the breathing, the digestion, and the immune system. The autonomic nervous system has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which activates the rest-and-digest response. The brain’s stress response can have both positive and negative effects on the individual, depending on the intensity, the duration, and the frequency of the stress. A moderate and short-term stress can be beneficial and adaptive, as it can enhance the motivation, the focus, the memory, and the creativity of the individual. A chronic and long-term stress can be harmful and maladaptive, as it can impair the cognition, the emotion, the immunity, and the health of the individual. A chronic and long-term stress can also lead to various psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction. The awareness of being under cosmic scrutiny may also influence the brain’s cognitive functions, which are the mental processes that enable the individual to acquire, process, store, and use the information. The brain’s cognitive functions include various domains, such as the attention, the perception, the memory, the learning, the reasoning, the decision-making, and the problem-solving. The brain’s cognitive functions are mediated by various regions and networks of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe. The brain’s cognitive functions are also influenced by various factors, such as the mood, the motivation, the attention, and the stress. The awareness of being under cosmic scrutiny may have both positive and negative effects on the brain’s cognitive functions, depending on the nature, the intensity, and the frequency of the belief. A positive and moderate belief may enhance the cognitive functions of the individual, as it may increase the moral awareness, the self-regulation, the conscientiousness, and the accountability of the individual. A negative and extreme belief may impair the cognitive functions of the individual, as it may increase the fear, the guilt, the shame, and the paranoia of the individual. A negative and extreme belief may also lead to various cognitive biases, such as the confirmation bias, the availability bias, and the hindsight bias, which may distort the perception and the judgment of the individual. Physiological Manifestations of Guilt and Redemption: Shiva’s Cosmic Justice Shiva, the lord of the cosmic justice, is the ultimate arbiter of the fate of the souls after death. He is the one who decides whether the souls will attain liberation, or moksha, which is the state of freedom from the cycle of birth and death, or whether they will undergo rebirth, or samsara, which is the state of bondage to the cycle of birth and death. He is also the one who determines the quality and the duration of the rebirth, based on the karma, or the law of cause and effect, which governs the consequences of the actions of the individual. Shiva is the dispenser of both rewards and punishments, depending on the merits and the demerits of the souls. He is also the giver of both grace and wrath, depending on the devotion and the transgression of the souls. Shiva’s cosmic justice can also be seen as a reflection of the physiological consequences of the moral choices of the individual. The moral choices of the individual can evoke various emotions, such as guilt and redemption, which can have significant physiological effects on the body and the mind of the individual. Guilt is the emotion that arises when the individual violates their moral standards or values, or when they harm or offend others. Redemption is the emotion that arises when the individual rectifies their moral errors or wrongdoings, or when they seek or receive forgiveness from others. The physiological effects of guilt and redemption can be understood by examining the activity of the neurotransmitters and the hormones that are involved in these emotions. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that transmit the signals between the neurons, or the nerve cells, in the brain and the body. Hormones are the chemical messengers that circulate in the blood and regulate the functions and the behaviors of the body and the mind. Some of the neurotransmitters and the hormones that are associated with guilt and redemption are: Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is involved in the regulation of the mood, the appetite, the sleep, and the social behavior. Serotonin is also known as the happiness hormone, as it promotes the feelings of well-being, satisfaction, and optimism. Serotonin levels are influenced by the moral choices of the individual, as they can increase or decrease depending on the outcome of the actions. Serotonin levels can decrease when the individual experiences guilt, as they may feel depressed, anxious, or remorseful. Serotonin levels can increase when the individual experiences redemption, as they may feel relieved, happy, or grateful. Oxytocin: Oxytocin is a hormone that is involved in the regulation of the social bonding, the trust, the empathy, and the altruism. Oxytocin is also known as the love hormone, as it promotes the feelings of affection, intimacy, and attachment. Oxytocin levels are influenced by the moral choices of the individual, as they can increase or decrease depending on the nature of the actions. Oxytocin levels can decrease when the individual experiences guilt, as they may feel isolated, rejected, or ashamed. Oxytocin levels can increase when the individual experiences redemption, as they may feel connected, accepted, or forgiven. Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in the regulation of the motivation, the reward, the pleasure, and the learning. Dopamine is also known as the pleasure hormone, as it promotes the feelings of enjoyment, excitement, and curiosity. Dopamine levels are influenced by the moral choices of the individual, as they can increase or decrease depending on the anticipation and the feedback of the actions. Dopamine levels can decrease when the individual experiences guilt, as they may feel bored, apathetic, or regretful. Dopamine levels can increase when the individual experiences redemption, as they may feel stimulated, enthusiastic, or proud. The physiological effects of guilt and redemption can also be observed by measuring the activity of the brain regions that are involved in these emotions. The brain regions that are associated with guilt and redemption are: Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC): The ACC is a brain region that is involved in the detection and the resolution of the conflicts, the errors, and the discrepancies. The ACC is also involved in the regulation of the pain, the empathy, and the morality. The ACC is activated when the individual experiences guilt, as it signals the discrepancy between the actual and the desired behavior, and the need for the correction or the compensation. The ACC is also activated when the individual experiences redemption, as it signals the resolution of the conflict or the error, and the achievement of the moral goal. Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC): The OFC is a brain region that is involved in the evaluation and the integration of the rewards and the punishments, the outcomes and the expectations, and the emotions and the cognitions. The OFC is also involved in the regulation of the impulse control, the decision-making, and the social behavior. The OFC is activated when the individual experiences guilt, as it evaluates the negative consequences of the action, and the need for the avoidance or the apology. The OFC is also activated when the individual experiences redemption, as it evaluates the positive consequences of the action, and the need for the approach or the appreciation. Ventral striatum (VS): The VS is a brain region that is involved in the processing and the reinforcement of the rewards and the motivations, the pleasures and the desires, and the learning and the memory. The VS is also involved in the regulation of the mood, the addiction, and the hedonism. The VS is activated when the individual experiences guilt, as it processes the loss of the reward, and the need for the restoration or the compensation. The VS is also activated when the individual experiences redemption, as it processes the gain of the reward, and the need for the repetition or the celebration. Chitragupta’s Pen and the Autonomic Nervous System: Recording Life’s Symphony Chitragupta, the celestial penman, is the ultimate recorder of the life’s symphony, or the sum total of the actions and the experiences of the individual. He is the one who writes down every detail of the life of the individual in his register, the Agrasandhani, which serves as the evidence and the testimony of the individual’s deeds. He is also the one who reads out the record of the life of the individual to Yama, the god of death, who decides the fate of the individual in the afterlife. He is also the one who erases or modifies the record of the life of the individual, depending on the grace or the wrath of Shiva, the lord of the cosmic justice. Chitragupta’s pen can also be seen as a metaphor for the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that controls the involuntary functions of the body, such as the heart rate, the blood pressure, the breathing, the digestion, and the immune system. The autonomic nervous system is the recorder of the life’s symphony, as it registers and responds to the internal and external stimuli that affect the body and the mind of the individual. The autonomic nervous system is also the regulator of the life’s symphony, as it maintains and adjusts the homeostasis, or the balance, of the body and the mind of the individual. The autonomic nervous system is also the modifier of the life’s symphony, as it adapts and changes the functions and the behaviors of the body and the mind of the individual, depending on the needs and the demands of the individual. The autonomic nervous system has two branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which activates the rest-and-digest response. The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that prepares the body and the mind to cope with a perceived threat or challenge, by increasing the arousal, the alertness, and the readiness of the individual. The rest-and-digest response is a physiological reaction that prepares the body and the mind to recover from a stress or a strain, by decreasing the arousal, the alertness, and the readiness of the individual. The autonomic nervous system coordinates and balances the activity of these two branches, depending on the situation and the state of the individual. The autonomic nervous system can also be influenced by the conscious and the subconscious processes of the individual, such as the thoughts, the emotions, the beliefs, and the intentions. The autonomic nervous system can be modulated by various techniques and practices, such as the meditation, the breathing, the biofeedback, and the hypnosis, which can enhance the awareness and the control of the individual over their autonomic functions. Read the full article
